Mexico crushes New Zealand in playoff first leg, ex-LA Galaxy Academy player on the bench for New Zealand

Mexico has one foot in the 2014 World Cup after demolishing New Zealand 5-1 in the first leg of the intercontential playoff on Wednesday at the Estadio Azteca.

Orbie Peralta talied twice while Paul Aguilar, Raul Jimenez, and former New York Red Bulls defender Rafael Marquez each tallied once. New Zealand added a single goal late off a finish from Chris James that sets up a 5-1 aggregate score heading into the second leg next Wednesday in Wellington.

There was a Galaxy connection for the All Whites as former LA academy player Bill Tuiloma was on the bench for the defeat. Tuiloma played for the Galaxy Academy during their run to the 2011 Generation adidas Cup. A pair of photos of Tuiloma, who is currently with the Olympique de Marseille U-19’s in France, are below. He can be seen to the left of current Galaxy Homegrown defender Oscar Sorto in the center of the first photo and is the player in the yellow boots in the middle of the second image.